Islands off Attica, Aegina. Silver Stater (12.32 g), ca. 456/45-431 BC. Land tortoise with segmented shell. Reverse: Large square incuse with skew pattern. Meadows grp. Iiib; Milbank pl. II, 12. A magnificent example struck in high relief and well detailed. NGC grade AU*; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. Estimated Value $4,000 - UP
The Aeginetan "turtle" - the popular name given to the stater on account of its obverse type - was a staple of trade throughout the Aegean during the Archaic and early Classical periods. The simple and graceful outline of the turtle's shell is attractive and inspired imitation and modification at other cities, most notably at Orchomenos in Boiotia, where the turtle became a sprouting barleycorn with the hard kernel of the grain taking the place of the turtle shell. The wide circulation of Aeginetan coinage in Greece led to the adoption of the Aeginetan standard in much of the Peloponnesos, Central, and Northern Greece. This standard continued to be employed in may places even after 431 BC, when the Athenians expelled the Aeginetans from their island home and turtle production ended.
Ex The Century Collection.